Injuries from Barefoot Running

In one of my previous blogs I talked about running on a beach and running barefoot.  According to http://barefootrunningshoes.org/2010/05/13/common-injuries-associated-with-barefoot-running/, wearing foot gear causes a runner to strike the ground on their heels which makes the runner more susceptible to trauma and injuries. Running barefoot uses the main component of downward directed force that would propel the runner forward as they would land on mid foot.  Our arch naturally provides us with a cushion to withstand our movements painlessly.  Wearing shoes causes the foot to be put into minimal form and causes the shock of the impact to travel up the heels, knees, and hips causing injuries.  Therefore, the way our foot is shaped naturally absorbs the shock of impact from running, when we add cushion (foot gear) it causes the shock to travel up the body and cause injury.  On the other hand, most surfaces we run on are not safe for barefoot running.  Running too long on rough surfaces can cause blisters which can cause damage to the soul of the foot.  Internal injuries that can occur include; sprains and stress impact injuries due to wrong  angle and force of impact. Also, it is common to run on glass and other items that may be left on the ground that can cause skin breakage.  It is very important that we are aware of the surfaces we are running on and taking caution to watch out for dangerous objects. 

Tips for running safely barefoot can be found on:
http://zenhabits.net/barefoot-running/